Stockholm

I've been staying in Stockholm for the last few days. I ended up staying a bit longer than planned because I stupidly didn't book a bus home and they were all sold out once I arrived! We walked all around town in spite of the biting cold and we were staying in the Old Town, Gamla Stan. We went past all the Christmas window displays in the famous department stores and also had lunch at the top of the Film Institute where you can see the whole town.

Most interestingly, my friend Jennifer showed us around the Vasa museum, where her sister used to work. It is actually built around the Vasa, a viking ship that famously sunk in the Stockholm harbour just twenty minutes and less than a nautical mile into its maiden voyage on 10th August 1628. The ship was clearly unstable in the port but was still allowed to set sail. It foundered due to a wind putting it off balance because it was top heavy; it had far too much weight above the waterline. Then in 1961 it was recovered. It's recovery is incredible and it is unbelievable to think it was at the bottom of the Stockholm 'strom' for 333 years. However, the guide at the museum explained to us that they have scientists and archeologists coming to the museum everyday to try to come up with new ways of preserving the ship. Unfortunately it is rotting from the inside out and they fear it is short lived. One of the most recent suggestions that they will explore is stabilising the wooden frame with bronze bolts.